Hey Guys, my scouting connections seem to be doing the Santa Claus-checking lists twice event. From talking with them while they made their reports requests, here is some of the scout chatter I was filled in on.

Of course, it will be the GM and head coach making draft decisions, but those out in the field have equally important views. Whether I agree with the chatter or not, "don't shoot the piano player" here, cool? Still, I've been doing this since 1968 & I know when a scout is pulling my chain or not (hey, got ten grand kids under age eight - hard to fool this old dog).

So, after deciphering the talk from yesterday & recognizing the reports they have requested (for the NFL teams, my reports on each player average over 100 pages each), I could be under the Abe Lincoln effect (fool me once, shame on...) but do value my sources as being legit when they say the following;

Got a crazy one from the Broncos themselves that the Packers did a lot of homework on Jordan Willis & Dion Dawkins the last week. Dawkins told them that it was as a guard, while theBroncos still consider him a tackle. Falcons are making calls trying to get into the 15-20 range, thinking the Giants want Willis & the Birds want to team him with Beasley. While Dawkins could be a nice fit for Green Bay's woes at guard, I keep seeing them out West, where Utah's Isaac Asiata is getting lots of Day Two attention from the Cheeseheads.

I still say Cincinnati or Carolina will pull the early trigger to entice the Jets if Fournette is on board at #6. Jets really want Conley & feel they can move down into the teens & snatch him. The drawback there is that Jacksonville has interest in Fournette. The Jets continue to feed rumors of a possible Trubisky pick-up, if he's there, but word I have inside is that defense is a priority first and that the team thinks it could trade down once or twice and still find Patrick Mahomes available. Logic says, tank the season and get your franchise QB in 2018's draft.

The San Francisco talks of trading the #2 pick to Cleveland for three choices in the first 100 won't subside either, with the Browns giving up #12 in the package with a second and another pick. That way, Garrett-Trubisky go 1-2 to the dog pound.

The Chargers look like they will rectify passing on Jalen Ramsey last year and take my top-rated player, Jamal Adams, to lead their secondary for the next decade. They will have to hold their breath on draft day, as both Chicago and Tennessee are both strongly considering Adams for future employment.The recent cutting of Jason McCourty also has the Titans considering a trio of Buckeyes for their secondary - Conley, Malik Hooker and Marshon Lattimore.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals continue to examine the benefits that Clemson's Mike Williams offers at 4.6 speed to those that currently injured Western Michigan star, Corey Davis, has to offer. With John Brown dealing with a sickle cell issue and Larry Fitzgerald having more great days behind him than ahead, the Cards need to determine if they go for an immediate band aid for the receiving corps or bank on the future by taking a quarterback in Round One (Mahomes).

Johnny-come-latelys in the coaching industry have seen a lot of running back coaches put off by Christian McCaffrey's decision to refuse private workouts. Hey coaches, even Ray Charles can see what he does, if you pop a tape into your VCR! Look for the Broncos to make every effort to slip past the Eagles in an attempt to snatch the team legacy. Word is, if the Browns keep the #12 pick, that is the one Elway is targeting to move up to. It could expand into a mega-deal, as the old QB has spent the last few years trying to entice the Browns to "free Willey" and package Joe Thomas into the mix.

One player the Giants have shown strong interest in is Houston's Tyus Bowser, miscast in a 3-4 scheme with the Cougars. Many feel he has Jamie Collins qualities, especially the Dolphins, making him the prime target for the team in South Beach before the Big Blue can get around to picking. It could lead to a nice consolation prize though, as many scouts feel that Florida's Jarrad Davis is making a strong push to get with a linebacker-needy team in the bottom third of the opening round.

Seattle's "invites" the last week (Lattimore and Conley, Humphrey, etc.) of cornerbacks is either the team trying to bluff Richard Sherman that they are serious about trading him, or in reality, they have tired of his antics. The bet here is, whether he stays or not, Sherman could see a local kid, Kevin King, get a call from Pete Carroll at the end of Round One. Seattle is also doing lots of homework on my most underrated corner, Utah's Brian Allen, but more so for late Day Two activity.

The Chiefs are determined to build for the future and have been equally busy as San Francisco in delving into the good, bad, ugly of the quarterback class. If they go Round One, DeShaun Watson is their flavor of the month. Some think the Cards will jump on Watson first, but Bruce Arians has lots of tapes on Cal's Davis Webb in his office.

Some former first round projections are seeing their top rung spots drop, as talk is Alabama's Cam Robinson and Marlon Humphrey could slip into Day Two affairs. Taco Charlton is being eye-balled by Detroit, but his sudden "desire" to play last year have others wondering if he's worth first round money. The second round stud should be Mississippi's Evan Engram, a player I would not hesitate to snatch in the opening round, if I was the New York Giants.

The consensus is that O.J. Howard and David Njoku will be long gone before Engram hears his name called, but if you look at what he brings to the table as a receiver, there is no finer fit for Big Blue, unless the future falls into their laps and Patrick Mahomes is still waiting for an opening round call. Bowser and Jarrad Davis are also in play for the Giants, if they slide, but word is they don't place Vanderbilt's Zack Cunningham into that same opening phase pecking order.

The Giants also feel they can get their future edge rusher in the second round, with the favorite name being bandied about as Florida State's DeMarcus Walker, who some teams feel could also handle a few snaps each week as an under tackle in addition to coming off the flank. Youngstown State's Derek Rivers has also drawn considerable attention in East Rutherford, but some on the staff seem to prefer local product Tanoh Kpassagnon emerging late in the second round as a viable option if Walker has already been selected.

If the team waits until the third round to get another pass rusher, Alabama's Ryan Anderson could fill that need, either on the edge or at strong-side linebacker.They have also shown similar interest in oft-injured Florida product - Alex Anzalone, but those medical reports are the only reason the Gator will still be there late on Day Three.

Houston is on the quarterback market, but Bill O'Brien could pull a Day Two surprise, as he's spent a lot of time putting Pittsburgh's Nate Peterman under the microscope. Pittsburgh could also be the place where the first Division II player will be drafted this year, as Ben Roethlisberger is pushing for Ashland tight end Adam Shaheen to come on board in the second round.The Steelers could change their minds in that round, if Florida's Quincy Wilson slides, but if they do not get a corner in the first two rounds, West Virginia's Rasul Douglas has emerged as a viable third round pick in Round Three, where Utah's Brian Allen also comes into play.

San Francisco GM John Lynch says he's "open for business" with the #2 pick, but he could be throwing caution to the wind. Word is that the team has targeted troubled Joe Mixon in Round Two and hope injured cornerback Sidney Jones is waiting for them early in the third round. With the draft absent of any franchise types to secure with the second pick, analysts still predict he will take Stanford's Solomon Thomas, but the former safety has done an "only have eyes for you" view when watching tapes of LSU's Jamal Adams.

All the talk about the Bills going for a quarterback in Round One appear to be a smokescreen, especially after Tyrod Taylor re-did his deal. But, that does not mean they will not add to that unit before Day Two ends. If Jon Gruden is right, the "best mind" in this QB class is Miami's Brad Kaaya and despite an early run in the draft on mediocre passers, Round Three is the place where this Hurricane could be a great value pick-up, so much so, my scouts are calling him this year's Dak Prescott.

While most think the Patriots will further address cornerback needs during the Malcolm Butler situation, Coach Bill B. likes to rattle cages. Do not be surprised if fast-rising strong safety Justin Evans all of a sudden hears his name called at the end of Round One. Jarrad Davis is another name the Pats are strongly considering with their current first pick.

_________________"Rational arguments don't usually work on religious people. Otherwise, there wouldn't be religious people." --Doris Egan

Got a crazy one from the Broncos themselves that the Packers did a lot of homework on Jordan Willis & Dion Dawkins the last week. Dawkins told them that it was as a guard, while theBroncos still consider him a tackle. Falcons are making calls trying to get into the 15-20 range, thinking the Giants want Willis & the Birds want to team him with Beasley.

I continue to say there's no way Jordan Willis makes it to Day 2. All the late chatter is Round 1 with him. We shall see.

Got a crazy one from the Broncos themselves that the Packers did a lot of homework on Jordan Willis & Dion Dawkins the last week. Dawkins told them that it was as a guard, while theBroncos still consider him a tackle. Falcons are making calls trying to get into the 15-20 range, thinking the Giants want Willis & the Birds want to team him with Beasley.

I continue to say there's no way Jordan Willis makes it to Day 2. All the late chatter is Round 1 with him. We shall see.

I've seen that in a couple of other places as well the past few days, so looks like I'll be dead wrong. Just everything that I'd read previously was he wasn't being considered for the first, and I didn't see it on the limited YouTube I'd seen of him, but with those kinds of numbers at the Combine that had to catch the eyes of teams and made them take a deeper look.

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Baltostiller wrote:

I can agree to disagree without calling another post "assholic" Maybe you should do the same.

Do you really see him as an OLB for us? He just looks too big. Saw a comment on one of his YouTube vids that he moves like a guy 20 pounds bigger than what he actually is, yet he's obviously polished and explosive. It's a hard match for me to see.

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Baltostiller wrote:

I can agree to disagree without calling another post "assholic" Maybe you should do the same.

Do you really see him as an OLB for us? He just looks too big. Saw a comment on one of his YouTube vids that he moves like a guy 20 pounds bigger than what he actually is, yet he's obviously polished and explosive. It's a hard match for me to see.

Willis fits the Steelers parameters perfectly. As FC alluded to on the podcast, I think it's possible the reason they're not looking at him is they think neither Willis nor Bud Dupree can play the right side.

I can see the Woodley comparison. I'd trust the opinion you have over the draftnik community, but maybe that's why I'm struggling to see a fit since I'm picturing him in a Bud Dupree role and I don't see either of those guys as ROLBs.

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Baltostiller wrote:

I can agree to disagree without calling another post "assholic" Maybe you should do the same.

One player the Giants have shown strong interest in is Houston's Tyus Bowser, miscast in a 3-4 scheme with the Cougars. Many feel he has Jamie Collins qualities, especially the Dolphins, making him the prime target for the team in South Beach before the Big Blue can get around to picking. It could lead to a nice consolation prize though, as many scouts feel that Florida's Jarrad Davis is making a strong push to get with a linebacker-needy team in the bottom third of the opening round.

Bowser getting love in the low 20's. Willis and Bowser might both be gone before the Steelers pick.

_________________"Rational arguments don't usually work on religious people. Otherwise, there wouldn't be religious people." --Doris Egan

I don't get that hype for Shaheen, sorry... and I am all about move TEs and small schools. He's a very fast for his size guy that will find some level of success with it-- but he's not going to replace the kind of Ladarius Green's production we got when he was healthy.

1 - I was surprised both teams graded Taco Charlton as a first-round selection.

2 - Neither team grades Deshaun Watson as a top-32 material. Watson has always been a second-round prospect on our board. It doesn’t mean he won’t be selected in the first round.

3 - Reuben Foster has dropped dramatically. The news of his failed/diluted drug test from yesterday was the icing on the cake. One team was ready to take him in the middle of Round 1 but has backed off. I’m told it’s a combination of what’s described as “horrible behavior” as well as concussion issues.

4 - Neither team feels Foster’s teammate, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, grades as one of the top 32 players in the draft. We reported earlier this week that more and more teams are comparing Humphrey to Dee Milliner as a straight-line cornerback.

5 - When asked about UConn defensive back Obi Melifonwu being a potential top-32 prospect, the response from both teams was unanimous -- no way.

Yeah, I am so, so against the Steelers taking Humphrey in ANY round. When I read that he gave up an average of 19 yards a catch that was it for me. I don't care how big he is, how fast he runs, if he can't play the ball, has trouble locating the ball and gets torched routinely deep down the field, there is nothing worth drafting. He is DND to me.

Artie Burns had a negative grade in coverage from PFF his last year at Miami.

Humphrey is an ultimate upside pick, just like they saw Burns and Davis. Very young, highly athletic, good skills and IQ but has some areas that need coaching up. And maybe those areas can't be coached up and he'll bust, but I think there's a lot of good to work with there.

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Baltostiller wrote:

I can agree to disagree without calling another post "assholic" Maybe you should do the same.

Do you really see him as an OLB for us? He just looks too big. Saw a comment on one of his YouTube vids that he moves like a guy 20 pounds bigger than what he actually is, yet he's obviously polished and explosive. It's a hard match for me to see.

Willis fits the Steelers parameters perfectly. As FC alluded to on the podcast, I think it's possible the reason they're not looking at him is they think neither Willis nor Bud Dupree can play the right side.

So according to that formula B2B the Steelers have struck out more than hit a homerun. Look at the players drafted,categories met Travis Feeney: 6/10 Stolen off the practice squad. Never know. Incomplete.Bud Dupree: 7/10 Still Raw. No real data yet to evaluate 100%. Incomplete.Jarvis Jones: 4/10 Complete BustChris Carter: 10/10 Complete BustJason Worilds: 10/10 Started to come on only to retire. Never know how he might have turned out. Incomplete.Thaddeus Gibson: 7/10 Complete BustBruce Davis: 8/10 Complete BustLaMarr Woodley: 6/10 Only player we can realistically evaluate. Did well for a few seasons and then busted out the league. Not the Track Record I'd want to be part of as a scout, GM or coach. Dismal.

_________________"Tomlin?? The guy is a massive fraud, hes no leader of men, hes an enabler of clowns." GreekSteel

Dude was a play making stud from day one. 35 sacks from 08-10 on the best Steelers D in 30 years, 11 career postseason sacks, was on pace for possible DPOTY in 2011 with 9 sacks in 10 games before that hamstring injury. That's a homerun second round pick.

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Baltostiller wrote:

I can agree to disagree without calling another post "assholic" Maybe you should do the same.

Yeah perhaps I sold his accomplishments short. He did do it for 7 season's. His standout season's were 08 (11.5 sacks), 09 (13.5 sacks), 10 (10 sacks) & one could argue 11 (9 sacks). In those 4 season's Woodley played in 57 games out of a possible 64. 09 and 10 were the Only Two Seasons Woodley played in every game. Over his whole career If there was a knock on Wood it's that he was usually injured and didn't play every game. Still, when you look at that formula one player out of 7 panned out. Dupree is still to be determined. That's not a good result.

_________________"Tomlin?? The guy is a massive fraud, hes no leader of men, hes an enabler of clowns." GreekSteel

Do you really see him as an OLB for us? He just looks too big. Saw a comment on one of his YouTube vids that he moves like a guy 20 pounds bigger than what he actually is, yet he's obviously polished and explosive. It's a hard match for me to see.

Willis fits the Steelers parameters perfectly. As FC alluded to on the podcast, I think it's possible the reason they're not looking at him is they think neither Willis nor Bud Dupree can play the right side.

So according to that formula B2B the Steelers have struck out more than hit a homerun. Look at the players drafted,categories met Travis Feeney: 6/10 Stolen off the practice squad. Never know. Incomplete.Bud Dupree: 7/10 Still Raw. No real data yet to evaluate 100%. Incomplete.Jarvis Jones: 4/10 Complete BustChris Carter: 10/10 Complete BustJason Worilds: 10/10 Started to come on only to retire. Never know how he might have turned out. Incomplete.Thaddeus Gibson: 7/10 Complete BustBruce Davis: 8/10 Complete BustLaMarr Woodley: 6/10 Only player we can realistically evaluate. Did well for a few seasons and then busted out the league. Not the Track Record I'd want to be part of as a scout, GM or coach. Dismal.

Freeney, Carter and even Gibson shouldn't be anywhere near this conversation. Anyone selected after round 3 is a complete crap shoot. Saying a 5th or 6th rounder busted is silliness, given the bust rates for those rounds hover around 80 to 90%. Woodley was a home run period. Dupree yep yet to be decided. Worilds was an above average 2nd round pick. Fact he retired is not Steeler's fault at all. Outside of Jones I really don't see need for all the caterwauling. Whoopee dee do some late rounders rounders didn't pan out. Hardly a glaring shock. Go look at success of pass rushers beyond round 2. It is a massive list of people no longer employed by NFL. Sorry the above analysis is just lazy crap. If you wanted to argue Jones was a terrible pick that really hurt Steelers down the line, with ya totally but tossing in players selected beyond round 3? Please. There are very few pass rushers selected that late that go on to highly productive NFL careers.

My comment was about the formula applied. Not the round drafted. Obviously the formula implemented is something that's applied across the board regardless of draft slot. The results are poor at best and as such are Flawed. Further, I can't begin to understand why this approach would be applied with the results shown. Remember when the Steelers were known for Linebackers? Yeah, I do too. What ever happened I think this formula applied has something to do with why that isn't the case anymore. I'm sure there's an argument the NFL has evolved in there somewhere and Linebacking has changed. So why hasn't the formula changed with the evolving NFL then?

_________________"Tomlin?? The guy is a massive fraud, hes no leader of men, hes an enabler of clowns." GreekSteel

According to a CAA spokesman, who works for agency that represents Jabril Peppers:

"Peppers went to the combine. He was sick after flying there from San Diego. He has a history of cramping. Peppers was being pumped with fluids, drinking 8-10 bottles of water before he went to bed, because he was the first guy to work out two days for the LBs and DBs. He had to go through that first day, come back on second day, and that was the fear. So Peppers was pounding water and under the weather. He never failed a drug test in his life, nor tested positive before for any substance."

Drinking enough water to fail a drug test with a diluted sample is far more than just trying to "stay hydrated." There are 300+ players at the combine that I'm sure are trying to stay hydrated and yet only a couple test diluted-positive. It's a flimsy defense. He drank an excessive amount of water to dilute whatever was in his system beyond detection, plain and simple.

I mean, you gotta be pretty stupid, because you know you're going to get tested at the combine. Why not just stop whatever it is you're doing for a short amount of time so you can maximize your draft stock? Let's be honest, the majority of these college kids smoke weed. But you have to be smarter about it. Put it down long enough to make your money

_________________"Rational arguments don't usually work on religious people. Otherwise, there wouldn't be religious people." --Doris Egan